Choosing Your Campgrounds

Plan time to relax and enjoy this historical setting as well as to deal with unforeseen difficulties and delays. Allow ample time before and after your hike to avoid unnecessary conflicts with other travel arrangements

Designated Camping

Camping is allowed in designated campgrounds only. Individual campsites within the campgrounds are available on a first-come, first -serve basis. Open fires are prohibited. There are wood stoves available in some shelters below tree line, but wood supplies may be scarce and/or wet. Carry a backpacking stove and plenty of fuel.

At the time of reservation you must specify which campgrounds you will stay at for each night of your trip. While this requires careful pre-trip planning, it eliminates over-crowding in campgrounds and ensures that everyone will have a place to camp. Choose your campgrounds with the least experienced member of your group in mind!!!

Group Size

Hiking with a partner or small group will give you greater flexibility when planning your hike. Maximum group size is 12. In addition, only one large group (9 – 12 people) is permitted to cross Chilkoot Pass on any single day.

Groups larger than 12 are required to break into smaller groups and can not cross Chilkoot Pass on the same day or camp in the same campground on the same night. Allow ample time before and after your hike to avoid unnecessary conflicts with other travel arrangements.

Trail Access & Egress

Dyea Trailhead

The Dyea trailhead is a distance of 16 km / 10 miles from Skagway. Access is by all weather dirt road. Overnight parking is available in Dyea at the National Parks Service campground located 1 km / ½ mile from the trailhead. There are a number of private shuttles that provide transport from Skagway to the trailhead at Dyea. While these services are reliably available individual operators vary from season to season and specific contact information is not available until the onset of the summer hiking season. Contact information for these services is available at the Trail Centre.

Bennett Trailhead

There is no road to Bennett. Access is by train, floatplane or boat charter. There is no phone or cell phone service at Bennett. All post-hike travel arrangements must be made prior to starting the trail. Contact carriers directly:

Hiking Trip Options

Most backpackers begin their trek in Dyea and hike north towards Bennett. This option retraces the journey of the stampeders en route to the Klondike goldfields and as most weather systems blow in from the coast, driving rain or heavy winds will tend to be at your back. The average trip length is between three and five nights on the Trail.

Hiking north to south you will be moving against the predominant flow of hikers and will encounter many more hikers along the Trail. Descending the steep incline from the Pass to the Scales, while easier on the respiratory system, places greater stress on knee and ankle joints and puts you at greater risk of losing your footing, falling and possibly injuring yourself. As most weather systems move in from the coast you will be travelling into the prevailing wind.

The American Side

Most hikers spend two nights on the American side of the trail. Faster hikers will often spend only one night. It is desirable, especially in the early season when avalanche hazard is a concern, to stay in Sheep Camp the night before crossing Chilkoot Pass. An early departure from Sheep Camp (on the trail before 6:00 am) is essential to ensure safer travel through the avalanche zones early in the day when avalanche hazard is lower. Spending two nights on the American side is recommended in the early season to facilitate an early start.

Crossing the Pass

“Crossing the Pass” is the most demanding day. It often takes 12 hours to travel from Sheep Camp to Happy Camp, a distance of only 12.7 km (7.9 miles). There is a day use shelter at the top of Chilkoot Pass making it a logical place for a rest/lunch stop. In the early season hikers are advised to travel early and take a rest/lunch break at the Pass before proceeding through the avalanche areas to the north. Note: THERE IS NO CAMPING AT CHILKOOT PASS.

Many are surprised when the trip from the Pass to Happy Camp takes as long and proves just as challenging as the climb from Sheep Camp to the Pass. Snowfields between the Scales and Happy Camp persist throughout the summer months. Be prepared to camp on snow at Happy Camp until late June/early July.

The Canadian Side

Most people spend either two or three nights on the Canadian side of the trail. Spending an extra night will give you more time to relax after the "push" over the pass. Happy Camp, Lindeman City and Bennett are generally the campgrounds of choice for those spending three nights on the Canadian side. Lindeman City and Bare Loon Lake are both within striking distance of Bennett by train time for those spending only two nights. Remember: Choose your campgrounds with the least experienced member of your group in mind!!

Your Trip Itinerary

At the time of reservation you must specify which campgrounds you will stay at for each night of your trip. . If you are planning on taking the train, make sure your exit day corresponds with the train schedule: White Pass & Yukon Route or call: 1-800-343-7373.

Before calling to reserve please ensure that you can provide us with the following information:

# of adults (17+), youth (6-16) and children (5 & under) in your group